The Aerie-class ships are small long
range research vessels which the Federation ordered for non-Starfleet programs.
Since they are not Starfleet vessels they do not need to have any military
capability, and as such a majority of the vessels produced are purchased by
private parties and research groups. Private owners often add minimal weaponry.

Vessels in use by Starfleet have been
upgraded to include defensive weaponry such as phaser banks and micro-torpedo
launchers.

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These
specifications were taken from the Daystrom Institute Technical Library (www.ditl.org) for the “Raven Class” Federation starship
and may not match other sources.